Logan Thomas has ‘very, very good’ debut for Arizona Cardinals

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Logan Thomas looked every bit the NFL quarterback in his first taste of game action Saturday night.

Though it was in a preseason game, and he was facing a defense made up of players who will probably struggle to make the Houston Texans, the Arizona Cardinals’ fourth-round pick showed a considerable amount in his team’s 32-0 win.

Playing the entire second half, Thomas completed 11-of-12 passes for 113 yards with one touchdown.

“He had a nice, calm demeanor,” coach Bruce Arians said of the former Virginia Tech quarterback. “We kept with things he likes and knows. He threw some balls in there that made me hold my breath, but the guys caught them. He was very, very good.”

Thomas completed passes to five different receivers, and in the process showed a good mix of athleticism in avoiding the rush, arm strength in making throws to the sideline, and accuracy that is necessary to play at this level.

It was everything everyone knew he had, along with a lot of what people were unsure about.

“I just wanted to go through my progressions, make the right reads and deliver the right passes,” Thomas said of his goals entering the game. “Right now, I think I did so. Obviously film will tell a different thing or the same thing. I guess we’ll just have to see then.”

It’s hard to imagine the film saying much bad about the performance. Thomas said this was about as good as he’s played since camp began, and it’s possible he’s the type of player who steps up his game when the pressure is on.

“You never know until they go on,” Arians said when asked if he expected Thomas to play like this under the lights of game action. “This is the beauty of preseason. People that want to get rid of preseason games don’t have young quarterbacks. If they don’t get preseason games, they have no chance.”

Thomas, who is battling with third-year pro Ryan Lindley to be the team’s third quarterback, certainly gave himself a shot with his effort Saturday, that included a mix of throws along with an impressive touchdown pass. Facing a third and four from the Houston 12, Thomas eluded the rush, stepped up in the pocket and appeared ready to tuck the ball in and run, which he’s more than capable of doing. Instead, he threw the ball to Dan Buckner for a score.

“I think that’s an anybody type of play,” Thomas said. “I was just stepping up, saw hole to run, but I saw Buck in the back of the end zone standing alone. Just dropped it off to him.”

It’s the type of play the 6-foot-6, 250-pound QB is more than capable of making, and why he is such an intriguing prospect.

Thomas lasted to pick 120 in the draft because people questioned his accuracy and decision-making, though the Cardinals believed they could coach him up and fix those issues.

And if Saturday is any indication, they may be on the way to doing just that.

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